Blizzard Entertainment is hiring: Senior User Researcher, Overwatch | Irvine, CA
Blizzard Entertainment, Irvine, CA, US, 92713
Senior User Researcher, Overwatch
Join the ranks of a legendary force of adventurers, demons, orcs, and scientists to help provide the context and humanity of "why" and "how" our players engage with our games.
We are looking for a passionate and experienced Senior User Researcher to oversee and support the user research on Overwatch. You will give a voice to players from around the world by leading the effort of turning hard data into compelling stories, help craft the flow of our games/products, and be in the thick of team efforts to build great player experiences.
This role is anticipated to be a hybrid work position based on site at our Irvine, CA campus, with some work on-site and some work-from-home.
Responsibilities
Lead user research efforts for Overwatch, managing the full research pipeline including study scoping, design, execution, analysis, and reporting.
Own the research roadmap for Overwatch, aligning long-term research plans with development milestones and production goals.
Serve as the primary research point of contact for the Overwatch development team, building strong, trust-based relationships with stakeholders across disciplines.
Deliver timely, actionable insights that shape design and development decisions throughout the product lifecycle.
Tailor research deliverables to product and business needs, advocating for players at every stage of development.
Support junior researchers by overseeing study design, reviewing plans and reports, and ensuring overall quality and consistency.
Manage the intake and triage of research requests from the Overwatch team, aligning efforts with studio priorities and capacity.
Mentor peers and contribute to the growth and quality of the research discipline at Blizzard.
Requirements
Graduate degree in psychology, human-computer interaction, human factors, or related field, or comparable working experience.
Minimum 5 years' experience conducting user research in video games or interactive media.
Experience owning research for a shipped game or major product.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational and analytical abilities.
Proven ability to turn research findings into actionable product improvements.
Adaptable self-starter with a passion for user testing and games.
Experience with FPS/TPS games or deep familiarity with Overwatch.
Skilled in designing and running qualitative and quantitative studies.
Proficient in survey design, statistics, and data visualization.
Able to select and adapt research methods for complex product needs.
Experience synthesizing data to inform product direction.
Pluses:
Experience mentoring or coaching other researchers.
Experience working in a live service game environment.
Experience conducting research across multiple platforms (console, PC, mobile).
Familiarity with data tools and scripting languages such as SQL, Python, or R.